Cutting Through the Cloud of Deception (1 John 3:24–4:6)

God wants those who belong to him to experience intimacy with him. That’s why he calls believers to pursue holiness (1:5–2:2), obedience (2:3–6), and familial love (2:7–11; 3:10–23), not because that’s how we’re saved but because that’s how we draw near to him once we’re saved. God so desires that his children abide in him that he tells us to avoid worldliness (2:15–17) and sin (3:1–9), not because if we don’t we prove we don’t belong to him but because such rebellion kills intimacy. God so longs for his people walk in his light and love that he warns us to avoid false teaching (3:24–4:6), not because it can steal our salvation but because few things cause more damage to a relationship than deception. And, as John reveals in our passage today, there are lots of lies out there, falsehoods and half-truths about Jesus that can, if entertained and believed, destroy trust, breed anger and apathy, and prevent us from enjoying the Lord.